The Council of the Village of Riverlea met on the above date at Thomas Worthington High School. The following Council members were present: Mayor Eric A. MacGilvray, Scott K. Gordon, Leah M. Pyter, Emily Saving, and Dan E. Schlichting. Also present were Joshua C. Mehling, Clerk-Treasurer, L. Leah Reibel, Solicitor, and Steven Orenchuk, Street Commissioner. Guest of Council was Kathy McClintock. At 7:03 p.m., the Mayor called the meeting to order.
Minutes
The minutes of the Council meeting of March 21, 2022 were not read since each member had received a copy. Saving moved and Schlichting seconded the motion that the minutes be approved as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer. The motion carried (4-0).
Report of the Clerk-Treasurer
Pyter moved and Schlichting seconded the motion to approve the payment of bills and to accept the financial reports for March 2022 as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer. The motion carried (4-0).
Report of the Mayor
- The Mayor thanked Kathy McClintock and the members of the Social Committee for their work in putting on the egg hunt for neighborhood children. McClintock inquired about an increase to the social budget, as the Committee is planning on reinstituting the fall festival and reimbursing organizers of the July 4th bike parade, in addition to sponsoring the egg hunt and luminaria event, in 2022. Gordon moved to increase the budget for these social events from $2,500 to $3,500 and Saving seconded the motion. The motion carried (4-0).
- The Mayor stated that he is working with the Planning Commissioner to schedule a meeting with the new owners of the lot at 5691 Olentangy regarding the Village easements for lift station construction and maintenance.
Report of the Solicitor
The Solicitor stated that she had sent a letter to the attorney of the resident on Southington who had contacted the Village regarding water runoff issues. The letter contained the Village’s response to the complaints and she had not heard anything back since sending it.
Report of the Street Commissioner
- The Street Commissioner stated that he had scheduled a cleanout of stormwater solids at the lift station for the end of the month.
- The Street Commissioner stated that he is working on the Village stormwater report.
- The Street Commissioner mentioned that for some of the vacant lots in the Village the lateral sewer lines have been lined over and may need to be re-opened in the event of new construction. The Mayor pointed out that there have been a few cases where this has been done in recent years and suggested that Council can use these as a precedent in addressing the issue going forward.
Report of the Planning Commissioner
- The Planning Commissioner was not in attendance but addressed Council via telephone. He stated that the Commission had approved two COAs in April. AEP will be moving a telephone pole for the removal and replacement of a garage at 5851 High St.
- The Planning Commissioner reported that there are issues regarding power lines with the construction of houses on two lots toward the south end of Olentangy. After the demolition of the existing house at 5707 Olentangy, the owner found that power lines will be in the way of the proposed new house. This will likely be an issue with the house at 5691 Olentangy as well. Gordon inquired whether it is possible to bury the lines. The Planning Commissioner stated that this might be possible, but the issue is with the main power line, not the lines to the house, and pointed out that there is a house in between the two properties. The owner will work with AEP on this issue.
- The Planning Commissioner stated that he and the Mayor had a meeting scheduled with the owners of the lot at 5691 Olentangy to discuss the easements on the property. The current easements will make it difficult to service and eventually to replace the lift station.
Comments from Residents on Agenda Items
There were no comments from residents on agenda items.
Old Business
- Committee on Infrastructure
- Schlichting, the Chair of the Committee, stated that Marc Benevento had discussed with Columbia Gas the installation of a gas line for the lift station generator. This line was installed outside of the easement that had been marked for the installation. Columbia stated that they had placed the line where it is to avoid obstacles within the easement and that they will move the line if necessary.
- Schlichting reported that the Village had not yet been notified on the loan and grant requests for infrastructure maintenance funding, but that word is expected on the small government program by the end of May.
- Web Manager
The Web Manager was not in attendance.
- Communications Committee
Gordon, the Chair of the Committee, reported that the content for the Village directory is complete and that formatting is underway and he expected to receive an estimate for printing soon.
New Business
- Lawn Care Quote
The Clerk-Treasurer presented a quote from Shields Turf Services for maintenance of the Circle Park and ravine for 2022 in the amount of $4,000. The Street Commissioner stated that he felt that the park should be irrigated using the existing system, though it is not believed that the system is operable. Schlichting moved and Pyter seconded the motion to approve the quote. The motion carried (4-0).
- Replacement Flag Quote
The Clerk-Treasurer presented a quote in the amount of $173.41 from The Flag Lady to replace the Village flag that was installed in 2019 and is faded and torn. Council felt that given the quick deterioration of this flag, the Village should consider a flag in alternate materials or from a different vendor before approving the expense. The Clerk-Treasurer will pursue this.
- Resolution 2022-06
Resolution 2022-06, A Resolution of Appreciation to Retiring Street Commissioner William Charles for His Outstanding Service to the Residents of the Village of Riverlea, Ohio was introduced by the Mayor. Gordon moved and Schlichting seconded the motion to waive the three readings of the resolution to pass it in a timely manner. The motion carried (4-0). Schlichting moved and Gordon seconded the motion to approve the resolution. The motion carried (4-0).
Expenses
Schlichting moved and Pyter seconded the motion to authorize the following expenditures:
$ 220.00 – Gudenkauf Corp – Water & gas line locating
$ 970.20 – Kathy McClintock – Luminaria supplies reimbursement
The motion was approved unanimously (4-0).
Comments from Residents on Non-Agenda Items
There were no comments from residents on non-agenda items.
Next Meeting Announcement
The next regular meeting will be Monday, May 16 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at Thomas Worthington High School.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Pyter moved and Gordon seconded the motion to adjourn. The motion was approved unanimously (4-0). The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Joshua C. Mehling, Clerk-Treasurer
Eric A. MacGilvray, Mayor